Most salons underprice extension services because they only count the hair cost. This workbook breaks down the full cost of a tape-in or clip-in service and shows where the margin actually lives.
Your real cost per service
Add three numbers: hair cost (factory price per set — for example a tape-in set or a clip-in set), labor cost (install minutes × stylist hourly cost), and consumables (remover, shampoo, bonding tabs — usually €3–6 per service). Everything else is margin and marketing.
| Service | Hair cost | Install time | Labor @ €25/h | Suggested price | Gross margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full tape-in (20 pcs) | €55–75 | 60–90 min | €25–38 | €280–360 | ~65% |
| Tape-in move-up | €0–15 | 45–60 min | €19–25 | €120–160 | ~75% |
| Clip-in set styling + fitting | €45–60 | 30 min | €13 | €140–180 | ~60% |
The margin multiplier: move-ups and aftercare
The first install is not where salons get rich — the 6–8 week move-up cycle is. Every tape-in client who rebooks twice a year generates €240–320 of labor-heavy revenue with near-zero hair cost. Build the rebook into the checkout conversation, not a follow-up text.
Aftercare is the second multiplier: sulfate-free shampoo, brush, silk pillowcase and a removal kit bundle at €45–60 has roughly 70% margin and measurably extends set life, which protects your reviews.
Wholesale math that changes your price list
When you buy direct from the factory, hair cost per tape-in set typically drops 30–45% versus distributor pricing — enough to either undercut local competition or keep price and pocket the difference. See how MOQ and lengths affect your quote and our micro loop aftercare guide for the same logic in pre-bonded lines.
Three rules before you publish prices
- Never list a price for hair you have not installed yourself at least twice.
- Quote move-up pricing on day one — clients budget around it.
- Re-price yearly: hair cost moves with length demand, and your stylists get faster.
Want the editable margin sheet with current factory pricing? Request it here.
